INJURED MAN'S PLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20405, 6 November 1929, Page 10

INJURED MAN'S PLIGHT.

LONG JRIP. TO HqpITALV!

HELPERS' STRENUOUS TASK.

ACCIDENT IN BACK COUNTRY,

[bx telegraph.—own correspondent. J OPOTIKI, Tuesday. Strenuous efforts extending over 24 hours were made yesterday and to-dav before a seriously injured man could be brought from Fairweathers, about 40 miles from Opotiki, to the Opotiki Hospital. The injured man, Mr. John Thomas Murphy, was admitted to the hospital about eight o'clock this evening. His condition at a late hour was reported to be critical.

Mr. Murphy, who is a single, man, aged 37, was employed by the Public Works Department on the East Coast Road near Fairweathers. He was thrown from his horse on to a tree stump tvhen the animal bolted, and sustained severe internal injuries. It was realised that medical aid was urgently required and a telephone message was sent to Opotiki.' The only way he could be brought was by boat, but as the night was very dark arrd a good sea running it would not have been possible to put an injured man on board at the place where he would have to be picked up. Mr. A. Clark left early this morning with Mr. Brooke's launch, but he had to return after reaching Torere, as the sea was too rough for an attempt to be made to get the man on board.

The sufferer was finally conveyed by a stretcher party over a short disance to Raukokore. From there he was taken by a cream launch to Maraenui, on the Motu River. The sea was still rough and the journey of about 30 miles took about four hours. A taxi-cab was awaiting the launch at Maraenui, and with a good road the trip of 30 miles to Opotiki was rapidly covered.

The case is another instance of the urgent necessity of a bridge being placed across the Haparapara River and the early completion of the coast road.